Battle Plan

Wars are won by a series of battles, and battles are won by a series of decisions and actions. This statement may seem overly simplistic, but hear me out. In every battle, people on both sides are making decisions and then taking action on those decisions. Generals draw up their battle plans and communicate the plan to those under their command. Commanders move their troops into place and assign roles. Company leaders provide instructions to the individuals reporting to them, and each person carries out those instructions. All of this takes place before the actual fighting begins. If anyone fails to carry out their orders, the entire operation is in jeopardy before the battle starts. Once the attack begins, every individual must commit to fulfilling their duty to the best of their ability. As the battle rages, adjustments are made as necessary and new orders are issued and carried out. The battle is a series of decisions and actions, and those decisions and actions determine victory or defeat.

 One of my favorite examples of the impact of someone’s decisions and actions in battle is from Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg. Lt. Col. Joshua Chamberlain and his 20^th Maine Regiment were moved into position and were told to defend the left flank of the Union line. As wave after wave of Confederate soldiers attacked, Chamberlain and his men desperately held their position as both their numbers and ammunition were diminished. With their ammunition almost completely gone, the men watched their enemy form up for a final and decisive charge to overrun the Union position. Chamberlain made a decision and issued a command to his troops – fix bayonets, and prepare to charge. As the Confederate soldiers began their assault, Chamberlain and his men leaped from their defensive position and ran at the opposing soldiers. The move completely caught the enemy by surprise, and after a short skirmish they surrendered. Chamberlain’s decision and actions allowed the Union army to win the battle and, ultimately, the war.

 My focus today is not on the actions of Lt. Col. Chamberlain and the 20^th Maine. What I want you to take away from this is the fact that Gen. Meade of the Union Army, as part of his battle plan, assigned the 20^th Maine to the far left of the line and then trusted them to defend it. He realized that he could not keep all of his troops in one spot and try to control them all himself. In order to win, he had to scatter his people around the battlefield and trust them to do their job. He had to make a battle plan, assign roles, and have faith in the plan and the people under his command. Victory came because Gen. Meade was willing to relinquish some of his authority and control, placing it in the hands of others.

 Many situations in life require us to relinquish some of our control as we pursue our goals. The inability to let go and trust others is actually a detriment to achieving our goals and will likely lead to failure. Once you have set your goals and are ready to work toward them, you need to form a “battle plan” that gives you the best chance of victory. You need to seek out, and listen to, the advice of others who are also committed to your goal, and you will have to identify individuals who will have a specific role in carrying out your plan. Once the individuals have been identified, your job is to communicate what their role is and why it is important to you and to them. Then, you must allow them to go carry out their assignment to the best of their ability. Of course, you will want periodic updates on how the plan is working, but you should not try to maintain control over how they are carrying out their duties.

 If Lt. Col. Chamberlain had needed Gen. Meade’s permission to charge into the enemy assault, there is a good chance that the Union would have lost the Battle of Gettysburg. This likely would have changed the outcome of the war and would have greatly impacted the course of world history. The General’s ability to make and follow the battle plan, to relinquish some of his control, and to trust others allowed him to win the battle and, ultimately, the Civil War. Your success in the pursuit of your goals rests in your ability to follow General Meade’s formula. Make a plan and communicate it to those around you, assign roles, and trust your team to do their job. You will find yourself reaching your goals much more quickly than you dreamed possible!